Apparatus and method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the lik



1965 H MULLER 3,283,351

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS,PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 16, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 8, 1966H MULLER 3,283,351

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS,PAMPHLEIS AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16, 1965 FIGA j- 40CONTROL UNIT.

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United States Patent 3,283,351 APPARATUS AND lVIETHOD FOR TI-IREADLESSBINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS, PAMPHLETS AND THE LIKE Hans Miiller,Buschgutweg 4, Zofingen, Switzerland Filed Feb. 16, 1965, Ser. No.433,026 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Feb. 21, 1964, 2,236/64 13 Claims. (Cl. 11-1) The present invention relates to apparatus anda method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and thelike. More particularly, the invention relates to clamping and controlapparatus and method in apparatus for the threadless binding of books,booklets, pamphlets and the like.

In known arrangements for threadless bindings of books, booklets,pamphlets and the like it is necessary to hold the end sheets at a workstation separate from that holding the printed sheets during the cuttingor trimming of the back edges of the printed sheets in order to avoidcutting or trimming the end sheets.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a new andimproved apparatus and method for threadless binding of books, booklets,pamphlets and the like.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and a methodfor threadl'ess binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the like whichapparatus and method are simplified and involve a lesser number of stepsthan known arrangements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide apparatus and amethod for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets and the likewhich retains the printed sheets and the end sheets at one place or workstation during the cutting or trimming of the back edges of the printedsheets without cutting or trimming the end sheets.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide apparatusand a method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets andthe like for cutting the back edges of the printed sheets withefficiency, reliability and effectiveness.

Books, booklets, pamphlets or the like of the type bound by theapparatus and method of the present invention have a plurality ofprinted sheets and end sheets parallel to the printed sheets and on bothsides thereof, all of the sheets having front and back edges, but withthe back edges of all the sheets positioned coplanarly while the frontedges of the end sheets extend farther from the back edges thereof thando the front edges of the printed sheets from the back edges thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, the printed sheets and endsheets are clamped in a compact initial pile with the front and backedges initially lying in spaced substantially parallel planes with theback edges of the sheets positioned at a first determined heightrelative to a reference plane and the pile of printed and end sheets areunclamped and dropped with the back edges of the printed sheetspositioned at a second determined height relative to the reference planelower than the first determined height by a predetermined distance whilesimultaneously maintaining the end sheets of the pile of printed and endsheets with the back edges of the end sheets positioned at the firstdetermined height and subsequently reclamping the pile of printed andend sheets with the back edges of the printed sheets at the secondpredetermined height and with the back edges of the end sheets at thefirst predetermined height to permit cutting the printed sheets in aplane parallel to the plane of the back edges thereof at the firstdetermined height without cutting the end sheets.

In order that the present invention may be readily carried into effect,it will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side view, partly in section, of an embodiment of theapparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line 11-11 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line III-III of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic presentation, partly in section, of an embodimentof clamping members and a control unit of the apparatus of the presentinvention.

In the figures, the same components are identified by the same referencenumerals.

The apparatus of the present invention is utilized to bind books,booklets, pamphlets and the like so that a plurality of printed sheetsare positioned in the book and the like with end sheets parallel to theprinted sheets and on both sides thereof. The end sheets have no printedmatter on them usually. All of the sheets, printed and end, have frontand back edges. The back edges of all the sheets are positionedcoplanarly while the front edges of the end sheets extend farther fromthe back edges of the sheets than do the front edges of the printedsheets from the back edges of the sheets. The book cover is glued to theback edges of the sheets and has end plates parallel to and adjacent theend sheets.

A plurality of work stations is provided for the apparatus of thepresent invention to enable the performance of various operations on theprinted and end sheets to bind them into a book, booklet, pamphlet orthe like. The work stations include a first work station A, and aplurality of succeeding work stations B, C, D and so on. The printedsheets 1 and the end sheets 10 are positioned at the first work stationA. The printed sheets 1 and the end sheets 10 are cut or trimmed at thenext succeeding work station B. The printed and end sheets arerepositioned at the next succeeding work station C. Glue is applied tothe back edges of the printed sheets 1 and the end sheets 10 at the nextsucceeding work station D. Other operations, such as aflixing the coverto the pile of printed and end sheets, are performed at the succeed.

ing stations.

Clamping apparatus 2, 2, and control apparatus 40 are provided toposition and guide the printed and end sheets through the various stagesof the apparatus of the present invention. The clamping apparatusfunctions to clamp the printed sheets 1 and end sheets 10 to a compactinitial pile with the front and back edges initially lying in spacedsubstantially parallel planes 41 and 42, respectively. The back edges ofthe sheets are positioned at the bottom in the plane 42, for ease ofoperations on the sheets, whereas in actuality the back edges are thosewhich appear at the back of the covered book and are covered by thecover of the book; the back edges being the portions of the printed andend sheets which are bound together and into the cover of the completedand covered book.

The back edges of the sheets are positioned at a first determinedheight, coplanar with the plane 42, relative to a reference plane suchas, for example, the plane 43 of the surface supporting the apparatus ofthe present invention. The clamping apparatus comprises a pair ofsubstantially parallel spaced clamping members 2, 2. At least oneaperture 20 is formed through each clamping member 2. Of course, anysuitable number of apertures 20 may be formed through each clampingmember 2 in any suitable pattern or arrangement.

The control apparatus functions to unclamp and drop the printed sheetsof the pile of printed and end sheets with the back edges of the printedsheets positioned at a second determined height, coplanar with the plane50, relative to the reference plane 43 lower than the first deter- Ymined height by a distance to be cut off each of the printed sheets atits back edge while simulaneously maintaining the end sheets of the pileof printed and end sheets substantially parallel to the printed sheetswith the back edges of the end sheets positioned at the first determinedheight and to subsequently reclamp the pile of printed and end sheetswith the back edges of the printed sheets at the second determinedheight and with the back edges of the end sheets at the first determinedheight.

The control apparatus comprises a mover 44 for tightening the clampingmembers 2 or moving them closer together to clamp and reclamp the sheetsbetween said members. The mover 44 may comprise any suitable means suchas, for example, a prime mover or motor, suitably aflixed to theclamping members 2 such as, for example, by a structure 45, 45. When theclamping members 2 are in clamping or reclamping position they are apredetermined distance 46 apart. FIG. 2 shows the clamping members 2 inclamping position and FIG. 3 shows said members in reclamping position.

The mover .44 also functions to loosen the clamping members 2 tounclamping position in which said clamping members are moved apart to adistance from each other greater than the predetermined distance 46. Thecontrol apparatus or unit 40 further comprises any suitable apparatus orarrangement for providing suction to the end sheets 10. Thus, forexample, a pump 47 may be coupled to the apertures 20 of the clampingmembers 2 by air-conducting conduits 48, 48. When the pump 47 isoperated, it draws air through the conduits 48, 48. and the apertures20, 20 in directions away from each of the end sheets 10, 10 therebyhOlding each end sheet to its corresponding clamping member 2 bysuction.

At the first work station A, the pile of printed and end sheets inclamped unbound condition is held between the clamping members 2 andmoved over a work surface 3 by any suitable moving or guidingarrangement such as, for example, an overhead conveyor or track system.The first work station A has two work surfaces 31 and 32 dset from eachother by the predetermined distance equal to the amount to be cut offeach of the printed sheets at its back edge, the work surface 31 beingcoplanar with the plane 42 at the first determined height and the worksurface 32 being coplanar with the plane sea: the second determinedheight relative to the reference plane 43.

When the pile of printed and end sheets is positioned over the worksurface 32, the control unit 40 unclamps said sheets by operation of themover 44 and operates the pump 47 to draw air away from the end sheetsto create suction at said end sheets, so that the printed sheets 1 dropto the second determined height 50 on the work surface 32 but the endsheets remain in position against the corresponding clamping members2.due to the suction effect. The back edges of the printed sheets 1 arethus lowered to the second determined height whereas the back edges ofthe end sheets remain at the first determined height.

When the operation of unclamping and dropping is completed at the firstwork station A, the control 40 operates its mover 44 to reclamp the pileof printed and end sheets in their new position with the back edges ofthe end sheets at the first determined height 42 and with the back edgesof the printed sheets at the second determined height 50. The movingapparatus such as, for example, a conveyor, then moves the reclampedpile of printed and end sheets to the next succeeding work station B.After the pile of sheets is reclamped, the pump 47. is made inoperativeto discontinue the suction on the end sheets since such end sheets arethen again held in position by the pressure of the clamping members 2.

At the work station B, cutting apparatus 4 cuts the printed sheets inthe plane 42 of the back edges of the end sheets 10 without cutting theend sheets. The printed sheets 1 are cut substantially parallel to theplane of the back edges of said printed sheets and at the firstdetermined height 31. Thus, the back edges of the printed 4 and endsheets of the pile, after cutting, lie in a plane at the firstdetermined height 31 while the front edges of the end sheets 10 lie intheir initial plane 41 and the front edges of the printed sheetsl lie ina plane 51 substantially parallel to the plane .42 of the back edges ofthe printed and end sheets and lower than their initial plane 41 by theamount cut off each of the printed sheets. The conveyor system thenmoves the pile of printed sheets and end sheets to the next succeedingwork station C, where they are again unclamped and lowered to a worksurface 5 and then are again reclamped. The con end sheets, and at awork station next succeeding the next.

succeeding work station, a suitable cover may be affixed over the gauzeback.

While the invention has been described by means of a specific exampleand in a specific embodiment, I do not wish to be limited thereto, forobvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In apparatus for threadless binding of books, booklets pamphlets andthe like having printed sheets and folded end sheets parallel to saidparrallel to said printed sheets and on both sildes thereof, all of saidsheets having front and back edges,

clamping means clamping said printed sheets'and said folded end sheetsin a compact pile with the back edges of said sheets positioned at afirst determined height relative to a reference plane;

control means for releasing said clamping means to enable dropping ofsaid printed sheets of said pile so that the back edges of said printedsheets are positioned at -a second determined height which relative tosaid reference plane is lower than said first determined height by apredetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the folded endsheets of said pile substantially parallel to said printed sheets withthe folded edges ofsaid end sheets remaining positioned at said firstdetermined height and subsequently reclam ping said pile of printedsheets and folded end sheets while maintaining the back edges of saidprinted sheets at said second determined height and folded back edges ofsaid end sheets at said first de termined height so that a portion ofsaid printed sheets projects beyond said back edges of said end sheets;and cutting means for cutting off the projecting portion of said printedsheets while maintaining intact said folded back edges of said foldedend sheets.

2. .An apparatus as defined in claim 1; further comprising meansoper-atively connected with said control means for maintaining the foldsof said end sheets intact, said end sheets being substantiallycoextensive with said printed sheets on reclamping of said pile; andwherein said clamping means comprises a pair of substantially parallelspaced clamping member and the back edges of said printed sheetspositioned at a second determined height relative to said referenceplane lower than said first determined height. by a predetermineddistance while simultaneously maintaining the end sheets of said pile ofprinted and end sheets substantially parallel to said printed sheetswith the back edges of said end sheets positioned at said firstdetermined height and subsequently reclamping said pile of printedandend sheets with the back edges of said printed sheets at said seconddetennined height and with the back edges of said end sheets at saidcontrol means comprises mover means for moving said clamping memberscloser together to clamping 'and reclamping position in which the saidclamping members are a predetermined distance apart and for moving saidclamping members farther apart to unclamping position in which the saidclamping members are a distance apart greater than said predetermineddistance.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 2, and further comprising suctionmean-s cooperating with each of said clamping members for selectivelyholding each of said folded end sheets to its corresponding clampingmember by suction.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said suction meanscomprises means for selectively drawing air through apertures formedthrough the respective clamping members away from each of said foldedend sheets thereby to hold each folded sheet against its adjaoentclamping member.

5. Apparatus for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets andthe like having printed sheets and folded -end sheets parallel to saidprinted sheets and on both sides thereof, all of said sheets havingfront and back edges, comprising a first work station and a plurality ofsucceeding work stations;

clamping means clamping said printed sheets and folded end sheets in :acampact pile with the back edges of said sheets positioned at a firstdetermined height relative to a reference plane;

control means for releasing said clamping means to enable droppingofsaid printed sheets of said pile so that the back edges of said printedsheets are positioned at a second determined height which rellative tosaid reference plane is lower than said first determined height by apredetermined distance while simultaneously maintaining the folded endsheets of said pile substantially parallel to said printed sheets withthe folded back edges of said end sheets remaining positioned :at saidfirst determined height, and subsequently reclamping said pile ofprinted and folded end sheets while maintaining the back edges of saidprinted sheets at said second determined height and the folded backedges of said end sheets at said first determined height;

cut-ting means at .a succeeding work station for cutting said printedsheets in the plane of the back edges of said end sheets substantiallyparallel to the plane of the back edges of said printed sheets and atsaid first determined height so that the centerfold of said end sheetsremains intact and the back edges of the printed and end sheets of saidpile lie in a plane at said first determined height while the frontedges of said end sheets lie in their initial plane and the front edgesof the printed sheets lie in a plane substantially parallel to the planeof the back edges of the printed and end sheets and lower than theirinitial plane by the amount out off each of said printed sheets; and

conveyor means for moving said clamped pile of printed and end sheetsthrough said first work station, for moving the reclamped pile ofprinted and end sheets to said succeeding work station, and for movingsaid reclamped pile of sheets to further succeeding work stations.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said end sheets eachconsist of 'a single piece of center-folded material, wherein saidcontrol means maintains the centerfolds of said end sheets intact,wherein said end sheets are substantially coextensive with said printedsheets on reclamping of said pile, and wherein said clamping meanscomprises a pair of substantially parallel spaced clamping members, andsaid control means comprises mover means for moving said clampingmembers closer together to clamping and reclamping position in which thesaid clamping members are a predetermined distance apart and for movingsaid clamping members farther apart to unclamping position in which thesaid clamping members are a distance apart greater than saidpredetermined distance.

7. An apparatus as defined in claim 6; and further comprising suctionmeans cooperating with each of said clamping members for selectivelyholding each of said folded end sheets in its corresponding clampingmember by suction.

8. An apparatus as defined in claim 7, wherein said suction meanscomprises means for selectively drawing air through apertures formedthrough the respective clamping members away from each of said foldedend sheets thereby to hold each folded end sheet against its adjacentclamping member.

9. An apparatus as defined in claim 8; and further comprising releasemeans releasing said folded end sheets for movement with respect to saidprinted sheets so that the back edges of said folded end sheets lie in acornmon plane with the back edges of said printed sheets;

gluing means at a next succeeding work station for applying glue to theback edges of said printed sheets and said folded end sheets;

and binding means at a work station succeeding the next succeeding workstation for applying a cover to the back edges of said printed and endsheets.

10. A method for threadless binding of books, booklets, pamphlets andthe like having printed sheets and folded end sheets parallel to saidprinted sheets and on both sides thereof, all of said sheets havingfront and back edges and said end sheets each consisting of a singlepiece of center-folded material, comprising the steps of clamping saidprinted sheets and folded end sheets in a compact with the back edges ofsaid sheets positioned at a first determined height relative to :areference plane; unclamping and dropping the printed sheets of said pileso that the back edges of said printed sheets are positioned at a seconddetermined height relative to said reference plane lower than said firstdetermined height by a predetermined distance, while simultaneouslymaintaining the folded end sheets of said pile substantially parallel tosaid printed sheets with the folded back edges of said end sheetspositioned at said first determined height and with the centerfold ofsaid end sheets intact; and subsequently reclamping said pile of printedand end sheets with the back edges of said printed sheets at said seconddetermined height and with the folded back edges of said end sheets atsaid first determined height so that a portion of said printed sheetsprojects beyond said folded back edges of said end sheets; and cuttingoff said portion of said printed sheets while maintaining intact saidfolded back edges of said end sheets.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the step of outing off saidportion of said printed sheets comprises cutting said printed sheets inthe plane of the back edges of said end sheets substantially parallel tothe plane of the back edges of said printed sheets and at said firstdetermined height so that the centerfold of said end sheets remainsintact and the back edges of the printed and end sheets of said pile liein a plane :at said first determined height while the front edges ofsaid folded end sheets lie in their initial plane and the front edges ofthe printed sheets lie in a plane substantially parallel to the plane ofthe back edges of the printed and end sheets and lower than theirinitial plane by the amount cut off each of said printed sheets.

12. A method as defined in claim 11; and further comprising the steps ofmoving said end sheets with reference to said printed sheets until theback edges of all said ReferencesCited by the Examiner sheets are in acommon plane;

applying glue to the back edges of said printed sheets UNITED STATESPATENTS and of said folded end sheets; and ,0 ,39 6/1963 Segreto 28 l21apgllyrgleatgover to the back edges of said pnnted and 5 FOREIGN PATENTS13. A method as defined in claim 12; and further com- 53 7/ 1959 C adprising the step of 926,199 5/ 1963 Great Britain.

moving the pile of printed and end sheets from one location to anotherfor enabling carrying out the 10 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

preceding steps.

1. IN APPARATUS FOR THREADLESS BINDING OF BOOKS, BOOKLETS PAMPHLETS ANDTHE LIKE HAVING PRINTED SHEETS AND FOLDED END SHEETS PARALLEL TO SAIDPARALLEL TO SAID PRINTED SHEETS AND ON BOTH SIDES THEREOF, ALL OF SAIDSHEETS HAVING FRONT AND BACK EDGES, CLAMPING MEANS CLAMPING SAID PRINTEDSHEETS AND SAID FOLDED END SHEETS IN A COMPACT PILE WITH THE BACK EDGESOF SAID SHEETS POSITIONED AT A FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT RELATIVE TO AREFERENCE PLANE; CONTROL MEANS FOR RELEASING SAID CLAMPING MEANS TOENABLE DROPPING OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS OF SAID PILE SO THAT THE BACKEDGES OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS ARE POSITIONED AT A SECOND DETERMINEDHEIGHT WHICH RELATIVE TO SAID REFERENCE PLANE IS LOWER THAN SAID FIRSTDETERMINED HEIGHT BY A PREDETERMINED DISTANCE WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLYMAINTAINING THE FOLDED END SHEETS OF SAID PILE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TOSAID PRINTED SHEETS WITH THE FOLDED EDGES OF SAID END SHEETS REMAININGPOSITIONED AT SAID FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECLAMPINGSAID PILE OF PRINTED SHEETS AND FOLDED END SHEETS WHILE MAINTAINING THEBACK EDGES OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS AT SAID SECOND DETERMINED HEIGHT ANDFOLDED BACK EDGES OF SAID END SHEETS AT SAID FIRST DETERMINED HEIGHT SOTHAT A PORTION OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS PROJECTS BEYOND SAID BACK EDGES OFSAID END SHEETS; AND CUTTING MEANS FOR CUTTING OFF THE PROJECTINGPORTION OF SAID PRINTED SHEETS WHILE MAINTAINING INTACT SAID FOLDED BACKEDGES OF SAID FOLDED END SHEETS.